Club to celebrate Wellington Garden Week by giving back

Recently Wellington Mayor Bob Margolis proclaimed Feb. 24 to March 2 as Wellington Garden Week. But, what does that mean to the average resident?

Wellington Garden Week is a way for the Wellington Garden Club to give back to the community with activities that include educational workshops, member programs and a student gardening project along with a plant sale, club members Barbara Hadsell and Twig Morris said.

"We decided that February would be a good time to celebrate Wellington Garden Week because it allows us to include more of our members [who come down for the winter season] and our youth garden clubs," Hadsell said.

This year's activities will kick off with a plant sale and seminar titled Gardening Makes a World of Difference from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Wellington Community Center, 12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.

Hundreds of plants grown by local vendors and Wellington Garden Club members will be for sale and there will be a raffle to win a flowering tree.

Several free seminars are also slated, including one by Al Salopek, a local beekeeper, who will teach guests about the important role honeybees play in the world's food supply chain from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Plus, an observation hive will be on display along with local honey for sale throughout the day.

For those looking to revamp their landscaping, nationally known garden author and landscape architect Pamela Crawford will offer the seminar Landscape Makeovers at 1 p.m. During the seminar she will take color photos participants bring and draw sketches on them of ideas for their garden.

"She is going to do a five-minute makeover of any sore spots you may have in your yard," Hadsell said. "Then you can take the design home with you and do the makeover."

Crawford is an award-winning designer and writer who has designed more than 1,500 garden and outdoor living spaces here in Palm Beach County. She has written more than 10 gardening books and has been featured in numerous publications including Better Homes & Gardens,Southern Living and HGTV Magazine.

Attendees can ask experts or master gardeners, of which there are 17 within the club, any gardening questions they may have.

A craft workshop is planned for Monday with miniature potted plants, Morris said.

A flower design workshop will take place on Wednesday in which members will create designs to be given to supportive businesses and placed in Wellington's public areas.

"This is just another way we are giving back to the community," Hadsell said.

Then throughout the week Wellington Garden Club members will participate in garden-related activities at local schools conducted by the club's junior and high school garden clubs.

"The high school club is going to plant a butterfly garden at the natural area off of Flying Cow Road," Morris said. "While Wellington Landings Middle will spruce up their existing garden."

The Wellington Garden Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with more than 150 members, has been an active part of the local community, the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and National Garden Clubs since 1982.